Entering the glitzy building, Min’s eyes automatically fixed themselves on the gigantic portrait of ASH. Yi-an’s slicked-backed hair perfectly accentuated his rosy cheeks while his sharp, cat-like eyes radiated with charisma. What a shame I didn’t get to witness your flawless transformation from a scrawny teen to such an alluring celebrity. I’m proud of you, Yi-an.

Joon-woo glanced over at his friend and rolled his eyes at Min’s expression. It wasn’t like he was seeing ASH’s picture for the first time or anything. If anyone else saw him, they’d think Min was in love with the singer. Nudging his boss’s ribs, the secretary gave him a look before turning to catch the receptionist’s attention.

“Hello, we made a last-minute appointment with CEO Lee Won-hyuk for 2:15 pm.”

“Oh! H-Hello! Um, yes, h-here are your guest passes. The CEO’s office is located on the fourth floor. Y-You can either take the elevator or the stairs….” the receptionist breathed as she laid eyes on the handsome heir, her cheeks turning red from embarrassment. Was he a model?!

Bitter that he wasn’t getting any attention with his stupidly good-looking friend around, Joon-woo snatched the passes from the woman’s hand, “... Thank you.…”

Stifling his laughter, Min followed his friend to the elevator when he met eyes with one of the company’s employees. Her eyes widened in horror once she recognized the familiar face she had seen so many times in the past. Her face paled as if she had seen a ghost as she shakily stepped away from the elevators.

Raising an eyebrow, Min was about to greet her when the woman flinted towards the stairs. His expression hardening, Min pressed the button for the fourth floor of the CEO’s office. Something was definitely not right. Why did she react like that…? As if he wasn’t supposed to be here?

“...Joon-woo, did you see that?”

“What? See what? Oh, that the receptionist was too busy ogling at you?!”

“No, I meant that woman who was about to take the elevator with us… Wait. Are you jealous?”

“N-no! Why should I be jealous of you?! Huh?! Hmph. And yeah, she’s weird. The women here are all weird!”

Stupefied by Joon-woo’s blatant jealousy, Min ignored his pouty secretary. Biting his lip, Min couldn’t help but feel his heart sink at the horrible thoughts racing across his mind. Was that bastard CEO Lee blackmailing Yi-an? Was that why he couldn’t reach him for so long?

“This might be more complicated than I anticipated….”

~~~

CEO Lee, the representative of GOLD Entertainment, yawned as he lazed around on his sofa. He had spent the entire morning trying to find a new music producer after Yi-an had thrown a massive fuss on the phone in the wee hours of the morning. But despite the endless interviews, everyone was below his expectations. Honestly, if it weren’t for his pretty face and the copious amounts of money he was bringing in, that kid would have been kicked out by now. 

“What’s so bad about sharing music with other artists within the same company? It’s not like we’re giving it away to a rival company. Ugh…! That conceited brat! Ah! Whatever, I don’t care. I’m too tired to even think about it.”

Groaning, he tossed and turned on his leather sofa, trying to find the best spot to take a nap, when the doors to his office swung open without warning. 

“CEO Lee?”

“Aish!… Tsk. Who the hell let you in, huh?! I told my secretary I’m not going to meet anyone– GAHHH!”

Falling onto the floor, the CEO’s face turned as white as sheets the second he saw Min’s face peering down at him. Yoon Min?! What the hell was he doing here?! Wasn’t he supposed to be abroad?! When the hell did this kid come back? Scrambling to get up, the flustered CEO bumped his knee hard into the coffee table as the wooden office doors banged open again. 

“CEO LEE! YOON MIN IS–”

“Hi, Manager Jung, or is it Director Jung, now? I was a bit sad when you ran off without a greeting. Are you not happy to see me?”

“M-Min…! O-Of course not! You’re always welcome here.”

Leaning against CEO Lee’s desk, Min shifted his deathly gaze toward the two executives, “Really? How odd. You both look like you’ve seen a ghost, though. Is it that surprising that I came by to visit the company I trained at for six years?”

“I… Well, it’s just been so long! I-I thought you were abroad!” CEO Lee stammered as he nervously smiled at the imposing man before him. It felt like he was a small prey captured by a black panther…! How could this kid still be so terrifying?!

“How did you know that I went abroad? I thought everyone in Korea assumed I was hiding in my grandfather’s mansion, no?”

“I… W-Well, not everyone knows that the heir of S&H Group was a trainee here, haha! B-Besides, your grandfather told me you would be sent abroad for school! Come, sit! We have much to catch up on, don’t we?” CEO Lee grinned widely before glancing over at Director Jung, who was frozen in place. 

Determining that she would be of no help to him, the CEO hesitantly sat on the edge of the sofa, too nervous to act calmly in front of his unexpected guest. What was he going to do?! He was done for!

Min observed the slight, jittery movements of the CEO and smirked. Hm. Looks like someone’s about to pee in his pants. Pathetic.

“Tell me, is there something you’re both hiding from me? Or…” Min sauntered towards the spooked executives, his dark obsidian eyes gleaming with curiosity and suspicion, “Are you hiding me from Yi-an?”